"All the men were believed to be from Batam, Indonesia using a wooden boat to approach MT Merlion 2 loaded with a cargo of oil," commented Chief Maritime Enforcement South Region First Admiral Adon Shalan.

MMEA believes two other robbers managed to escape with the wooden boat when MMEA members approached the ship, while the eight arrested were found hiding in a cabin in the bridge.

Three of the eleven crew members on board suffered injuries from the incident. [12/12/12]